SCSC Approves Two GCSA Incubator Schools

Staff Report From Georgia CEO

Friday, August 2nd, 2024

Georgia families will soon have access to more high-quality public school options, following a decision by the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia (SCSC). On Wednesday, the SCSC approved two public charter schools participating in the Georgia Charter Schools Association’s Charter Incubator program—a competitive and rigorous, year-long training process that recruits and trains top talent to start or replicate public charter schools in Georgia. The Simple Vue Academy and The Wright Community School were among only three new start-up charter school petitions approved by the SCSC for the 2025-2026 school year.

Wednesday’s vote marks yet another consecutive year of successful outcomes for GCSA's Charter Incubator Fellows. In addition to these schools, the SCSC also authorized Movement School Atlanta.

“We’re grateful that the SCSC continues to give their vote of confidence to GCSA Incubator applicants,” said Bonnie Holliday, President and CEO of the Georgia Charter Schools Association. “These approvals will provide hundreds of families a much-needed choice about where their children go to school, and both Simple Vue and the Wright Community School will be located in communities with a strong documented demand for charter schools.”

"The approval of The Simple Vue Academy and The Wright Community School demonstrates the remarkable outcomes that arise when visionary leaders and boards prioritize designing a school alongside the community, intentionally building community-based partnerships, and centering every stakeholder’s voice," said Christa Thomas, Vice President of New School Development for the Georgia Charter Schools Association. "The journey for each school’s approval has been marked by the leaders' and boards' boundless passion and determination to bring community-led educational opportunities to Georgia’s communities. Through their tirelessly dedicated efforts, the leaders and boards from both schools have fostered a robust foundation for innovative schools that truly embody educational excellence and community spirit."

The Simple Vue Academy and The Wright Community School received state authorization after participating in Georgia Charter Schools Association’s Incubator program. GCSA’s Incubator assists and supports school founding teams throughout the entire charter petition process and provides coaching and professional development to school leaders and governing boards during their first two years of operation.

“The approval of The Simple Vue Academy by the SCSC is a game-changer for students in Douglas, Cobb, Paulding, and Fulton Counties,” said Nandi Edouard, Lead School Founder of The Simple Vue Academy. “This innovative charter school will provide a unique blend of STREAM (science, technology, reading/writing, engineering, arts, and mathematics) education and entrepreneurial training, empowering our youth to become the innovators and changemakers of tomorrow. We are deeply grateful to the SCSC for their support and to the GCSA Incubator for their invaluable guidance in developing our school model.”

“We are excited to have the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia’s support in opening The Wright Community School for the 2025-2026 school year,” said Tiana Stephenson. “We look forward to continuing to work with the community on the school’s launch.” 

The Simple Vue Academy

The Simple Vue Academy (SVA) is a newly approved 6-12 charter school set to open in 2025 in Metro Atlanta. SVA's mission is to create a sustainable pathway to entrepreneurship by providing scholars with a STREAM-based education (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), guidance on business and financial management, and a village of support. The school aims to increase college and career readiness for all students. SVA's innovative curriculum is designed to foster entrepreneurial thinking, promote community engagement, and prepare students for the evolving demands of the 21st-century workforce.

The Wright Community School

The Wright Community School is scheduled to open in fall 2025, serving families in Clayton, DeKalb and Henry Counties. The Wright Community School’s mission is to empower students to become the P.I.L.OT.S. (Proactive, Innovative, Literate, Organized, & Tenacious Scholars) of their own lives by fostering a strong sense of community and providing them with an individualized education enriched with support and leadership. WCS will provide students with personalized pathways leading to their success through a supportive, community-centered model that fosters academic achievement, leadership, and lifelong learning.

The Georgia Charter Schools Association’s Charter Incubator is Georgia’s longest-running and most successful charter development program. The GCSA Incubator has supported 11 Charter Schools currently serving more than 2,000 enrolled students and over 6,500 seats authorized in charter schools across Georgia.